ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley has become the subject of scorching criticism after he said he had concerns about a an incident caught on video showing two outnumbered Annapolis police officers trying to break up a fight Sunday evening.
“As mayor, I am very concerned”, Buckley wrote in a statement released Monday. “We are committed to the highest standards for the Annapolis Police Department and the efforts to improve community policing. The safety and trust of community members, as well as APD officers, is of the utmost importance to me and my administration."
Buckley promised the incident would be reviewed by police.
WARNING: Profanity in the video below.
Video of the incident posted to Facebook by The Arundel Patriot generated more than 3000 comments by late Tuesday. Many interpreted the mayor’s comments as questioning the actions of police.
“I hope he is concerned with the behavior of the kids and lack of respect for the police. Somehow I feel that is not what he meant. Sad,” one reader commented.
“The mayor is a coward for his statement,” wrote another.
Many people applauded the police for restraint after viewing the video.
“I hate police brutality and I know it exists but here the cops did exactly what they could do in this situation,” wrote one woman.
Buckley declined to comment further Tuesday.
The two officers seen in the video were called to the Harbour House Public Housing complex to break up a fight Sunday evening just after 7, according to police reports.
They were warned by a dispatcher that at least one person had made a statement about getting a gun.
As officers attempted to break up the fight, other people begin to attack the suspects being restrained by police.
One officer uses pepper spray to push back the crowd.
A suspect who appears to be attacking another person held by an officer is grabbed and thrown forcefully away by the officer’s partner.
The officer also brandished his taser to hold back screaming people.
Police never pulled their guns and did not deploy batons to strike any people involved. The officers did broadcast for help, prompting a large back-up response which was not captured on the citizen video posted to social media sites.
No serious injuries were reported and no citizens filed police misconduct complaints, according to Annapolis Police spokesman Sgt. Amy Miguez.
Three people, including a juvenile girl, were charged with offenses ranging from second degree assault to disorderly conduct.
No charges were filed for assaulting police.
“Our officers reported they were not the targets of the assaults” Miguez said. “They believe the individuals were attempting to attack each other.”
Citizen complaints of police misconduct in Annapolis fell from four in 2016 to zero in 2017. No complaints were filed in 2018.
Because force was used, Annapolis police will conduct a routine review of the incident and the conduct of the officers involved.
Annapolis police wear body cameras and authorities are in possession of videos documenting the entire incident which will be reviewed as part of the investigation.